[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Menu Bar” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F7F7F5″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” sticky_position=”top” motion_trigger_start=”top” saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” background__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” background_color__sticky=”#F3F3F1″ background_enable_color__sticky=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”1.25vw||1.25vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”139″ menu_style=”centered” active_link_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_bg_color=”#cba052″ dropdown_menu_line_color=”#d7d2cb” dropdown_menu_text_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_active_link_color=”#313436″ mobile_menu_bg_color=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_text_color=”#2f2f2f” menu_icon_color=”#25282a” mobile_menu_bg_color_tablet=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_phone=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” menu_text_color=”#313436″ menu_font_size=”1.3em” background_enable_color=”off” background_layout=”dark” menu_font_size_tablet=”2vw” menu_font_size_phone=”3vw” menu_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” mobile_menu_bg_color__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” menu_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” menu_text_color__hover=”#711421″][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Article Title Section” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_color=”#EAE9E5″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2023\/01\/element-bottom-left-checker-light-goldBottom-left@2x.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”19px||0px||false|false” bottom_divider_height=”40px” bottom_divider_flip=”vertical” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_enable_image_tablet=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ width=”100%” max_width=”1253px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”9px|2vw||0vw|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|2vw||6vw|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||||false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0.25vw|1vw|1vw|1vw|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|7vw||7vw|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” text_text_color=”#25282A” text_font_size=”1.1em” link_font=”||||on|||#2f2f2f|” link_text_color=”#2f2f2f” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” custom_margin=”||11px|||” custom_padding=”0px||5px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#d7d2cb” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Feature<\/p>\n
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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ custom_padding=”0.25vw|1vw|0px|1vw|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|7vw||7vw|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2024\/09\/Blane-Ruschak_circle.png” alt=”Blane Ruschak wearing a blue button down collared shit outside of the ASB building at Ramapo College” title_text=”Blane Ruschak_circle” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Top Text” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2021\/12\/Circlebottom-right_cut-of-circle_gold-red@2x.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_right” custom_padding=”50px||50px||true|false” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_enable_image_tablet=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
By Diane Couzens\u00a0<\/span> |\u00a0 Fall 2024<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”14px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”||||on||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Since 2002, Ramapo College has proudly partnered with The PhD Project<\/a>, a nonprofit organization dedicated to diversifying corporate America by increasing the diversity of role models in the classroom. Ramapo College has had six faculty members as PhD Project members: Assistant Professor of Accounting Dr. Wilson Rose; retired Professor of International Business Dr. Gladys Torres-Baumgarten; and past faculty members Dr. Tammi Redd, Dr. Roberto Saldivar, Dr. Alexis Smith and Dr. Shalei Simms. These individuals and other Ramapo alums have benefited from The PhD Project’s support, contributing to the project’s success in diversifying faculty and enhancing student success at the college.<\/p>\n Bernard J. Milano, a former chair and member of the Ramapo College Foundation board of governors, played a pivotal role in establishing The PhD Project 30 years ago. At the time, Milano was president of the KPMG Foundation, one of the founding partners.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was so important to change the system. Research showed there were very few African American accounting professors in the country, and at the same time, the accounting profession needed to be more diverse. There must be a linkage between diverse faculty and diverse students. We sought out individuals already in corporate careers who felt they had a different calling. Then we asked them to quit their jobs and move their lives around to pursue more education and ultimately become a faculty member in hopes that would influence the number of diverse undergraduate students that could be hired into the profession.\u201d<\/p>\n Blane Ruschak, president of The PhD Project, noted, \u201cEmerging research by PhD Project scholars highlights faculty diversity as a catalyst for student success in business schools, offering new perspectives on the \u2018role model effect\u2019 \u2013 how having a diverse faculty body enhances students\u2019 educational experiences. Although this is a work-in-progress research study, an initial finding indicates that diversity among academic staff is linked to better graduation outcomes for historically underrepresented minority business students.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Pull Quote1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f3f3f1″ collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1024px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Oswald||||||||” text_text_color=”#862633″ text_font_size=”35px” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_5_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_5_font_size=”21px” header_6_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_6_font_size=”15px” custom_padding_tablet=”4vw|6vw|2vw||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|10vw||10vw|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”43px” text_font_size_phone=”32px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cEmerging research by PhD Project scholars highlights faculty diversity as a catalyst for student success in business schools, offering new perspectives on the \u2018role model effect\u2019 \u2013 how having a diverse faculty body enhances students\u2019 educational experiences.<\/span>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Bottom Text” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”50px||50px||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||27px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”||||on||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The PhD Project shares similar objectives with Ramapo\u2019s strategic plan, \u201cBoldly Ascending,\u201d so the long-standing partnership is mutually beneficial. Goal 2, Inclusive Community, speaks to \u201cadvancing a culture of belonging, equity, inclusion and trust by embracing diversity, access and accountability\u201d while promoting an environment that elevates voices, examines structures of power and privilege and creates justice-oriented actions and solutions.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||18px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2024\/09\/Blane-Ruschak_waving.jpg” alt=”Dr. Wilson Rose at Commencement ” title_text=”Blane-Ruschak_waving” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”50px” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#545658″ text_font_size=”14px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Dr. Wilson Rose<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Before attending college as an undergraduate accounting student, Dr. Wilson <\/span>Rose felt the call to teach. However, working in the accounting industry seemed like a safer option to start his career, so Rose spent his initial years after graduation in the corporate world as a financial analyst. He shared that, after seven years, \u201cIt hit me again that I wanted to teach. My wife and I had a baby on the way, and the thought that I would forgo a salary to pursue my Ph.D. on the chance that I might land a job as a university professor was a leap of faith and a risk.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”||||on||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n During the five years he spent at Rutgers in the doctoral program, Rose juggled intensive coursework alongside a growing family. Not only did he have the financial assistance from the KPMG Foundation, but he also had the camaraderie and knowledge of The PhD Project’s membership. \u201cThe best thing was the built-in community of people trying to learn and help. It\u2019s an overall amazing experience.\u201d<\/p>\n He said, \u201cHaving the industry experience has been helpful because I can relay my experiences to students and [The PhD Project] influenced how I teach and engage with students. It’s given me the ability to take a step back and look at things at a high level. I try my best to teach well and communicate clearly. I am honest about the difficulties I’ve faced in various aspects of my educational and professional life so that students can remember my stories. Regarding mentorship, Ramapo’s structure is the most helpful. The focus on impactful learning experiences in smaller classroom settings gives students the tools to thrive for a lifetime.\u201d This concept aligns with another objective from \u201cBoldly Ascending\u201d Goal 2: \u201cdevelop future leaders who gain self-awareness, mentor others and emerge as change agents.\u201d<\/p>\n Since The PhD Project\u2019s founding, Ruschak noted that the number of historically underrepresented business professors in the U.S. has more than sextupled from 294 in 1994 to over 1,700 today. Additionally, approximately 300 diverse doctoral students receive support from The PhD Project to pursue their academic careers. Most PhD Project members go on to work in higher education, with a 90% graduation rate compared to the national average of 60% and a 97% retention rate for graduates remaining in academic careers.<\/p>\n Rose added, \u201cGetting more diverse professors in front of students and having the students see themselves there has a tremendous impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\u2014 Blane Ruschak<\/h5>\n
President of The PhD Project<\/h6>\n